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Diseases of Sheep. 



Alum, dissolved in water^, applied as a lotion to the mouthy will 

 speedily remove the tenderness that prevents feeding ; and^ if 

 promptly resorted to as soon as there is reason to fear the exist- 

 ence of the disease, will effect a cure before the condition is much 

 reduced 



The Hove, or Hoven, or Blown, is a distension of the 

 paunch by gas. The gas is generated by fermentation of the food, 

 especially cole-seed, turnips, or clover, if largely eaten before the 

 sheep has become accustomed to the diet. It resembles the dis- 

 tension of the stomach by too much food ; but there are evident 

 distinguishing differences which it is important to notice, because 

 the remedies in the two cases are very different. Where the 

 paunch is overloaded with food the animal is much distressed, 

 though the swelling is less marked ; and when the flanks are 

 handled, there is less elasticity perceived : but where the disten- 

 sion proceeds from gas, the elasticity is very great, the whole 

 abdomen is enlarged, and the skin has the tightness and almost 

 the reverberation of a drum when struck by the hand. The 

 breathing is laborious from the action of the diaphragm, which se- 

 parates the lungs from the stomach, being impeded. The remedy, 

 in the case of the loaded stomach, is obviously to relieve it of part 

 of the contents by exciting vomiting, if it can be effected : this, I 

 have understood, is sometimes successfully done by the infusion of 

 warm water by means of a stomach-pump in large quantities. If 

 relief cannot be obtained in this way, the paunch should be opened 

 at the flank, and a considerable portion of the superfluous food re- 

 moved. The wound made for this purpose must be stitched toge- 

 ther, and a pitch-plaster applied as an external covering. And 

 here I would wish to remark that one of the principal causes of this 

 complaint is occasioned by turning sheep upon the stubble imme- 

 diately after harvest. The corn which they pick up, particu- 

 larly wheat, by its swelling distends the stomach and prevents it 

 from performing its proper functions, even when assisted by medi- 

 cine. No other resource is therefore left but that just described. 

 To prevent this complaint the shepherd must be careful not to 

 turn his flock into the stubbles until the grain has sprouted, when 

 all danger ceases.'^ 



* As a preventive for sheep becoming blown, it is an excellent plan to 

 sow common salt over the fold which contains their food, early in the morn- 

 ing while the dew is on it. In the year 1836, I experienced its good effects 

 while feeding off a piece of rape, having lost several lambs by their being 

 blown. I bought a sack of salt and had it sown over the fold every morn- 

 ing before the dew was off : and the consequence was that I only lost one 

 sheep afterwards, and this occurred by accident, the shepherd, through 

 neglect, allowing it to run into the rape which had not been salted. There 

 are two advantages to be derived from this simple remedy : it not only 



